Vigilante thugs have no place in our society

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA has said that vigilantes have absolutely no place in Northern Ireland. He said that the only way to tackle anti-social behaviour is through people working with police. His comments come after reports about the level of paramilitary-style beatings being carried out in Northern Ireland , and the International Monitoring […]

Homophobia is shameful blight on society – Long

Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long has congratulated the Rainbow Project on its 15th birthday and said that anti-homophobia week is important in helping combat prejudice.. She attended the event to mark the project’s birthday in the Long Gallery at Stormont. Naomi Long MLA said: “Homophobia is a sickening and shameful blight on our society. For […]

Alliance, DUP, SDLP and UUP statement following latest transfer talks

Alliance, DUP, SDLP and UUP statement following latest transfer talks “The group met again today, and yesterday a meeting of the parties’ staff was held to explore detailed areas of agreement outlined the previous week. “The fact that this second group needed to meet shows the high level of consensus and progress being made within […]

Ford says IMC Report is massive wake up-call

Alliance Leader David Ford has said that the latest independent Monitoring Commission Report is a massive wake-up call to politicians in Northern Ireland on the need for justice to be devolved as soon as possible. David Ford said: “This is a wake-up call to all politicians in Northern Ireland. “It’s clear that the devolution of […]

Fitzpatrick disappointed about blue flag beach results

Coleraine Alliance Councillor Barney Fitzpatrick has expressed disappointment that two beaches in the area have failed to gain blue flag status. Portrush Curran East Strand and Portballintrae’s Salmon Rock beach both failed to gain this status. Cllr Barney Fitzpatrick said: “This is bad news for the wider Coleraine area because it could have an impact […]

McCarthy says respite services are vital and hails good news

Alliance Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has welcomed the announcement that a new respite centre for children with disabilities is to be created in Omagh, saying it is a real boost for the West, which has suffered serious cuts in services recent years. Kieran McCarthy MLA said: “Services of this nature play a big role […]

Lunn reveals spending on Irish and Ulster Scots translations

Lagan Valley Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn has revealed the amount of money spent by the Department of Education on Irish and Ulster Scots translations. He asked an Assembly question on the issue and between 07/08 and 08/09 the figure spent on Irish translation leapt from £13,274 to £47,062. Trevor Lunn MLA said: “The level of […]

Lunn criticises Robinson ‘witch hunt’ comment and says expenses scrutiny needed

Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn has condemned comments from Iris Robinson branding media scrutiny of MPs’ expenses as a ‘witch hunt’. He said yet again some in the DUP are out of step with public opinion. Trevor Lunn MLA said: “We have a yet another senior member of the DUP going on a solo run and […]

Wilson question shows he’s desperately clutching at straws on climate change

Alliance Party Environment Spokesperson Cllr Stewart Dickson has said that a question put by Sammy Wilson at Westminster shows that he is clutching at straws in trying to disprove the theory of man-made climate change. Mr Wilson had asked the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many scientists and academics they had […]